In my experience, as I’ve spoken of in previous messages, the “medical” staff at Hope by the Sea knows next to nothing about benzodiazepine withdrawal and protracted withdrawal. I was barely tapered – given a small amount of valium for less than a week before being forced to go cold turkey — after being on klonopin for over ten years. I had been on 2 mg. a day for a long time prior to going to HBTS. I had gone into this program feeling confident that I should be safe, due to the ‘medically supervised’ aspect the place touts. Well, the medical staff was not understanding regarding my terrible difficulty with withdrawal and my awful post acute withdrawal symptoms (and I was coming off of suboxone as well…also, I am 45 years old….not a teenager as many of the clients are.) They did not seem to be informed regarding the recommended tapering process for quitting benzodiazepines nor for the severity and gamut of awful symptoms that can be experienced. I am probably still struggling so badly because I was yanked off so quickly – I was there mid July 2017-mid August 2017. It has truly been an awful, AWFUL experience. I likely wouldn’t be left with such terrible protracted withdrawal symptoms months after leaving HBTS had I been tapered properly. I felt I was expected to keep up with the young ones, and most of them seemed to be coming off of much less powerful drugs – no one seemed to be struggling nearly as badly as I was (and still am now – more than 4 months after stopping the benzos and suboxone.) I convulsed and jerked wildly with involuntary muscle spasms. My eyes stayed unnaturally dilated for a long period of time and things were horribly blurred…my vision was SO poor. I couldn’t sleep. The anxiety and the shaking / tremors were insane (still struggling with this.) I felt/feel dizzy , off balance , foggy, dazed, almost drunk at times. There is a ringing in my head that sometimes becomes rather deafening, like rocks clinking around up there. I struggle with depression, frustration, desperation. Through all of this, (while I was there) it was alluded to that I was over-amplifying my symptoms. The therapist I was assigned to said as much. The case manager I was assigned to wanted to teach me to knit as a way to curb anxiety – well, knitting wasn’t going to cut this anxiety! As she tried to get me to do it, she became annoyed when I didn’t have the will or coordination to do it….I said in misery that I couldn’t function and then she snapped, “Well, if you can’t function they’re going to take you away….there gonna take you away and they’re gonna drug you up!” Ugh, I can almost hear it in my head now – the nasty tone with which she said these mean words…so hurtful. I did NOT feel safe at Hope by the Sea. There are some good people at this rehab, but the medical staff is uninformed….the residential houses do NOT have medical staff as employees – the house staffers are equipped only with battery operated blood pressure monitors, and of course their cell phones. If there’s a dangerous issue, all they can do is call 911…..there were times I was terrified with the racing heart/pumping adrenaline/wild spasms, but I didn’t let anyone call as I feared the bill that would result. After getting home and looking up klonopin withdrawal issues, I now know that HBTS was grossly negligent and that I may well have been in danger…..it sure did feel that way, but I was made to feel I was being “bad.” Now I know that my pain and fears were due to real issues that are STILL negatively affecting me. I wanted to go back to work after leaving HBTS, but now months since coming home, I still have not been able to hack it due to severe protracted withdrawal symptoms, and my family is suffering due to having very little income; this is painful for me as I so want to help and contribute. I am angry about the way I was treated. The medical staff was incompetent, often not at all present, and most of the few there that I met were harsh and/or unfriendly and standoffish – even sharp and condescending. This place may be ok for much lesser detoxes and withdrawals, but for my situation, they were beyond inadequate – I felt like a bug under a microscope who was forced to due their bidding and be “compliant” NO MATTER WHAT….whipped and worn down into submission. That was HORRENDOUS and absolutely miserable. BEWARE and please be cautious! You will likely be told all manner of rosy tidbits about Hope by the Sea by the person you talk to on the phone prior to being admitted….many of those things may be far from the truth. There doesn’t seem to be a perceived problem there with recruiters telling half-truths and outright LIES in order to tell potential clients what they want to hear in order to draw them in. Don’t just jump in without researching like I did. I went in so trustingly, and I was bitten hard. Tracy W.

Hope by the Sea literally saved my life. I came to them broken, wrists slit open from hand to elbows from attempted suicide due to depression and alcoholism. I thought I was going there simply for detoxing, but quickly learned how deep my issues ran. My 30 day stay turned into 45, and then into 90. The new life I found is invaluable, and I cannot put a price tag on. I highly recommend this treatment center to anyone who is suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism

We had a very poor experience. Mid-program, our son was dropped off w/out notice at a local train station for a minor rules violation. Needless to say, we were not pleased.

They did more damage than good. One size fits all drugs, therapy. I was forced to do 12 steps although I was not there for drugs and alcohol. I had a service line up care for me. I explained thoroughly what I was seeking. The psychiatrist on staff was the worst I've ever seen and I've seen a few.